THE FOUR BOUNDLESS STATES Master Jun Hong Lu: In Buddhism, loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity are known as the Four Boundless States. To constantly think about the suffering of others is known as loving-kindness. Compassion is to feel the suffering of others. To give others strength and help them with a joyful heart is […]
PERSEVERANCE IS KEY TO EXTERMINATE THE THREE POISONS Caller: How can we restrain the Three Poisons, namely greed, hatred and ignorance in our mind? Is it alright to always pray to the Bodhisattva, “May Bodhisattva help quell the Three Poisons in my heart”, or “Bodhisattva, I do not want any of the Three Poisons”? How […]
A GRATEFUL HEART LIES WITHIN A MAGNANIMOUS HEART AND IT WILL HELP ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES Caller: Hi Master, you once said, “A magnanimous heart will keep afflictions and karmic obstacles at bay”. Is it right to understand it as: A magnanimous heart has the effect of reducing the burden of the onslaught of one’s heavy […]
PRACTISE RIGHT MINDFULNESS SO THAT DEVIL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER YOUR SEVEN APERTURES Master Jun Hong Lu: The more you practise Right Mindfulness, the lesser delusional thoughts you will have. With this, the devil will not be able to enter your Seven Apertures, i.e. (two) eyes, (two) nostrils, (two) ears, and mouth. Conversely, […]
THE OBJECTIVE OF BUDDHIST PRACTICE AND CULTIVATION Master Jun Hong Lu: What is the purpose of Buddhist practice and cultivation? A lot of us have the answer: To attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, specifically, to what extent should one cultivate for one to be reborn in the Western Pure […]
A MIND FULL OF DELUDED THOUGHTS IS A DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND Master Jun Hong Lu: A mind full of deluded thoughts is a devil’s playground. These devils are like the thieves that steal your heart away. That is why it is called the ‘Thief of Hearts’. It robs you off all the kindness, leaving you with […]
THE RIGHT CONCENTRATION Master Jun Hong Lu: “Right Concentration” means to have proper control of one’s mental state and not to be affected by the worldly fame and fortune that cause confusion and derangement in us. This is when you have the right concentration. A truly composed person is able to control his own concentration […]
WAYS TO AVOID BEING CHAINED DOWN BY GREED AND NOT BECOMING A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES Caller: Hi Master, given our inherent Seven Emotions and Six Sensory Pleasures, we tend to be captivated by beautiful things, people and objects. When one recognises and enjoys the good qualities of the objects or person, but has no desire […]
WHY PRACTISE BUDDHISM? Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people regard Buddhism as a pursuit meant for the old. The reality is, Buddhism is the ultimate truth of the universe. From taking up the faith to the day a complete enlightenment is attained, this is what’s called a perfection of awakening – a state of ‘unsurpassed […]
CONTENTMENT IS THE WAY, GRATITUDE IS VIRTUE Master Jun Hong Lu: Contentment is the Way, gratitude is virtue. Only when you are content, will you search for salvation in Buddhism and seek the path to Buddhahood. Being grateful towards others is a virtue. How does one become virtuous? It is when he is content and […]
ENDURANCE IS NOT THE HIGHEST STATE OF MIND; STRIVE TO RESOLVE THE KARMIC CONFLICTS INSTEAD Caller: Hi Master, as the saying goes, “Kind people are vulnerable to being taken advantage of”, in that case, do we still have to always tolerate everything? As Buddhist practitioners, what should we do? Master Jun Hong Lu: You need […]
WHEN RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE (LIFO) ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, SHOULD WE VISUALISE OURSELVES AS THEM OR AS A THIRD PARTY? Caller: Hi Master, how should we go about performing the recitation of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) on behalf of our family members? Should we visualise ourselves as our […]
PRAYING FOR GOOD HEALTH IS NOT GREED Caller: How are you, Master? You have advised us to pray less for worldly blessings because it is unwise to expend our hard-earned meritorious blessings on illusory things in this world. Does that include our daily prayer for good health, wisdom, the elimination of karmic obstacles, and wishes […]
WILL ONE SHOULDER KARMIC OBSTACLES OF OTHERS FOR TRANSFERRING MERITS TO THEM? Caller: Master, you have mentioned that one will shoulder karmic obstacles for transferring merits to others. May I know what determines the amount of the karmic obstacles shouldered? Is it determined by the amount of the merits transferred or the level of karmic […]
IN THE FACE OF A NEGATIVE AFFINITY, DO WE ENDURE OR AVOID IT? Caller: There are both good and bad affinities within one’s relationship circle. In the context of a negative affinity, where deep down, we understand the nature of it is the crystallisation of evil seeds sown in the past, and hence, we must […]
AN ALTERNATIVE TO STANDING UP AT THE END OF THE RECITATION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE Question: When we recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance on board a flight, it may not be convenient to stand up at the end of each recitation. What can we do as an alternative after the three salutations […]
INTERNAL FORBEARANCE AND EXTERNAL FORBEARANCE Caller: For those who are accomplished in their spiritual cultivation, when they endure humiliation, their heart is in a state of unmoving suchness. As for us with lower-level of spiritual cultivation, though on the surface we may appear to be able to restrain from committing negative karma of speech, but […]
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS THROUGH SPEECH IS A MANIFESTATION OF GREED Caller: How are you, Master? Would you be able to give me some advice please? Master Jun Hong Lu: The main issue about you is greed. Caller: In which aspect do you think I am greedier? Master Jun Hong Lu: You are greedy for […]
BE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SENTIENT BEINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Those who aspire to become a Buddha or a Bodhisattva must have great resolutions. I hope that you will have a great resolution to help sentient beings in the future, just like me, your master. Do not be preoccupied with your personal […]
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF TALENT BEING UNRECOGNISED? Caller: What is the cause of talent being unrecognised? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is the result of committing speech karma, which holds one back from utilising his ability. Source: Wenda20150524B 01:00:41, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
THE RIGHT EFFORT Master Jun Hong Lu: The word “right” within “Right Effort” means, everything is done right. “Effort” here means putting in the hard work. For Buddhist practitioners, it means promoting righteousness, recognising what’s evil, concentrating on cultivating the mind, being single-minded in our practice and being bold in our ascend to the Four […]
THE RIGHT LIVELIHOOD Master Jun Hong Lu: To have the Right Livelihood, is about adopting the right method to extend one’s life, standing righteous in the vastness between heaven and earth, instead of scheming against others, harming or getting jealous of others. Strive to be an unadulterated person, a person with morality and a person […]
KARMIC OBSTACLES STEM FROM YOUR MEMORY Master Jun Hong Lu: As a matter of fact, karmic obstacles stem from your memory. When a specific unhappy incident dwells in your mind, resentment, apprehension and vexation will arise and from which, karmic obstacles will be formed. To remove karmic obstacles, don’t you think you should erase from […]
THE ACCUMULATION OF BAD SEEDS SOWN Master Jun Hong Lu: Sentient beings do not know the existence of the law of cause and effect, hence they commit evil deeds day in, day out. When you yell at others, speak ill of others, mistreat others or roll your eyes – all these create negative karma that […]
IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO WISH OTHERS ‘HAPPINESS’ DURING THE DRAGON BOAT OR CHING MING FESTIVALS Question: May I ask if there is such a tradition not to wish others ‘happiness’ during the Dragon Boat Festival, because it is a day when we pay respect to the deceased, similar to the Ching Ming Festival? It […]
IT IS MORE EFFICACIOUS TO PERFORM RECITATION DURING THE 24 SOLAR TERMS AND THE FIRST AND FIFTEENTH OF EACH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Is the efficacy of reciting the Buddhist scriptures during the 24 solar terms comparable to the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month? Master Jun Hong Lu: With regards to the 24 […]
AVOID MAJOR UNDERTAKINGS IN THE FIFTH LUNAR MONTH Question: As the fifth lunar month is deemed a “poisonous” month, is it alright for one to get married or move house during this period? Answer: It is best to avoid doing so. How can you expect things to proceed smoothly if you insist on holding your […]
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO CELEBRATE TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS WITHIN ONE YEAR OF FAMILY MEMBERS’ PASSING? Question: May I know whether it is advisable for my mother to make rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival, within the first year of the passing of my grandmother? The reason I ask is because there is a folk belief […]
RECITE 10,000 TIMES OF THE MANTRA TO UNTIE KARMIC KNOTS BEFORE UNDERGOING SURGERY IN THE FIFTH LUNAR MONTH Question: Master has advised before that one should avoid undergoing surgery in the leap fourth month of the lunar calendar. If unavoidable, we should recite 10,000 times of the Mantra To Untie Karmic Knots. The surgery has […]
IT IS A GOOD PRACTICE TO PROSTRATE AND RECITE MORE HEART SUTRA BEFORE AND AFTER THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL AND OTHER SOLAR TERMS Master Jun Hong Lu: To all Buddhist practitioners who are tuning in to this program, tomorrow – a Saturday – happens to be the Dragon Boat festival. Everyone knows that there is […]
